Letter to the Editor

Reminder News

Plans to build a commercial processing kitchen on Mt. Parnassus Harris Property Open Space are inappropriate.

The area around the Harris Open Space Property on Mt. Parnassus has a long history of land preservation. As far back as 1933 Captain George Comer did "give, grant, bargain, sell, and confirm" the land, bordering the Harris property to the State of Connecticut. This land was given to the State of Connecticut for the purpose of "recreation and demonstration purposes." A monument on the site, still in place today, honoring Captain Comer was dedicated by Connecticut Governor Wilbur Cross in 1937.

Seventy-eight years later, citizens of East Haddam, in a March 10,2011 referendum, voted to purchase the area directly south of the monument, 138 acres known as the Harris Property. Over the years the Harris' had many opportunities to sell this property to developers. However, Mr. Harris was looking for more than financial reward. He was looking for similar intrinsic values Captain Comer received 78 years before. For Captain Comer it was for consideration of patriotism, love and affection for the State of Connecticut.. In Harris' case it was love for the town and for the land to be preserved in a natural state, for recreational use, hiking trails and limited farming.

At the same March 10, 2011 referendum, voters also agreed to purchase from the Deans a conservation easement for approximately 280 acres adjacent to the Harris property, providing additional acreage in the Mt. Parnassus vicinity which would now be preserved in its natural state.

A current plan to build a commercial processing kitchen in the midst of an area that has a long history of land preservation is inappropriate. Aside from the negative impact on the town's history of land preservation and open space, financial projections that such a facility would not be financially self-sustaining for five years significantly hurts the taxpayers of East Haddam.